Alonso: I want to be F1 champion in 2017

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso has set the ambitious target of being crowned Formula One world champion in 2017.

Two-time champion Alonso has struggled to make a success of his second stint at McLaren, who have found life difficult since switching to Honda power for the 2015 season.

McLaren have shown some signs of improvement in the early part of this season, but they remain a long way off consistently challenging at the front end of the grid.

"You work the same way whether you're fighting for pole or for 10th place on the grid," Alonso told AS. "The satisfaction will be the same because you have given your best.

"Of course you want things to change. Every day you work imagining that victory will come in the future. That's why every lap is important and every opinion you exchange with the engineers is important.

"Next year we want to win the world championship. It may sound strange being where we are, but that is the goal.

"I'd like to be in front more often, but the situation is as it is."

The F1 season heads to Hungary this weekend.

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